Christians walking in the knowledge and power of their spiritual authority are especially targeted for attention by the enemy. When curses are broken and spirits reversed to the ones who sent them (Psalm 109:17) reverberations are generated in the spirit world, causing witches to become more cautious. Demons returning to those who sent them can be vengeful, angry, vicious and dangerous to the senders.

Higher level witches will “scan” the person on whom the curses are to be placed. By communication with demons, they learn of areas still vulnerable and open to attack. In most cases something in the intended victim allows him to fall into agreement with the curse. For example: a woman whose parents were witches was hesitant to break curses and send them back to the source for fear they were coming from her relatives in witchcraft. Actually this was not true, but the woman underwent much torment until she finally broke the curses. Demons work hard in their destructive activities and use any means to prevent knowledgeable believers from using their highly effective weapons against the kingdom of darkness.

For some reason women seem more susceptible than men to attack through curses. Perhaps her emotional makeup and her weakness in the area of spiritual deception (I Timothy 2:14) make her more vulnerable. Women are often first snared, and then used to bait a trap for men, just as Satan got to Adam through Eve. Most men tend to make a decision and stick by it, while a female may debate in her mind all the pros and cons of a situation, wondering if the decision she has made is correct. This mental vacillation can give opportunity for demonic onslaught.

God’s chain of command establishes the father, the husband or the male members of the Christian assembly as a spiritual covering and counseling resource for the women. Submission (I Corinthians 11:10) means to “come under the protection of”. Therefore, when a wife submits to her husband she is given special protection from the evil spirit world. Had Eve consulted Adam before she ate the forbidden fruit, things could have been very different (I Timothy 2:14). (Cf. Battling the Hosts of Hell)

People often state they are not under any curses. As regarding final salvation, no; but as far as your life here and now, yes you can definitely be affected. You did not automatically shed them when you were born again. Some deny this, stating the fact that Jesus died to take away the curse. He also died for the sins of the entire world (John 3:16). Following this line of reasoning everyone would automatically be saved. This is not true. The potential is there and the price is paid, but only appropriation of the provision puts it in force. Likewise, deliverance from these curses is available. However, it must be invoked in order to receive freedom from these legal grounds for demonic activity. Curses have long-lasting, drastic or even catastrophic effects and we need to be aware of this.

When man broke God’s law and brought black people from Africa to America as slaves it opened the way for many curses. The northeastern ship owners brought and sold them to southern plantations. As a result, God almost wiped out the entire nation with the Civil War, the bloodiest war in our history.

You cannot get away from judgement for breaking God’s law. Filled with bitterness and hatred because of being forced into slavery, the Africans struck back they only way they could – by invoking the curses of their ancient demon gods upon their white tormentors with witchcraft and voodoo. These demons have confessed that the slaves, filled with hate, resentment and anger, laid curses all over the southland. Even to this day, Louisiana is ruled by the Prince of Southern Curses and Arkansas by the Prince of the Occult.

Those from the northern United States have forbearers in Europe who brought witchcraft curses from the Black Forest, Scandinavia and the Druids in England. What I hope you will see is the thoroughness with which the devil has done his work. From southern Europe, Russia and the Balkans, gypsy and other witchcraft curses predominate.

When you came into contact with occult practices (such as the OUIJA board, horoscopes, fortune tellers, hypnosis or ESP) you were cursed, your children were cursed, your grandchildren were cursed and your great grandchildren were cursed, all in one operation!

Anything in the occult realm requires two steps to destroy the grounds for attack. Every contact must be confessed as sin to eliminate the ground of unconfessed sin as a legal hold for demonic bondage. We must find every single inch of territory held by the enemy, then take it back. Every demon within, not ruthlessly hunted down and expelled, will become a thorn in our flesh, a constant irritation and handicap. God will forgive every occult contact (I John 1:9). Next notify Satan that you are closing every door that you may have opened to him through these contacts.

People ask if every single occult contact will open the door to Satan. Not necessarily, but because it is difficult to gauge how psychically sensitive you are, it is wise not to assume there is no problem and include all of them. Better to include a dozen contacts which did not “take” than to miss one which did.

Take no chances and state this: “I am closing any door I may have opened to you, Satan, through contact with the Ouija board, astrology, fortune telling, hypnosis, ESP, etc.” Go down the list and when you finish renouncing them, notify the devil: “I am closing the door against all these things I know about and all the things I don’t know about. I renounce you and all your demons and I am closing every door I may have opened.”

Because you or someone else opened the door to invite attack, you are now legally closing that door and putting Satan on notice about it. This is a simple but necessary step to eliminate all legal loopholes through which you may be invaded and oppressed.

The occult is a deadly and dangerous area. Witchcraft, voodoo and American Indian curses have been found to be strong. Some question this because the Bible says, “a curse shall not causeless come”. Certainly it is true; a curse must have cause to operate. Unfortunately we have so many “causes” that the devil can almost shoot at will and hit us with demonic attack. Never do our imperfections stand out more prominently. Ignorance of Scripture and biblical principles in us, our parents, ancestors and churches has given satanic forces a field day.

Most people are unaware that the witches in Africa have been fasting thirty and forty days to break up Christian marriages in Africa and this country, especially for those among the leadership. Satan’s tools and dupes have that much dedication and determination to serve him! How many thirty and forty day fasts have believers undertaken to break the power of Satan and destroy demonic bondage? No wonder we are wide open! Satan is succeeding and we are failing. Servants of the enemy have dedication and devotion which shames the lazy and complacent servants of the Most High God!

One thing to remember about fasting is that basically it opens one to the spirit world. It is not just leaving off food, but runs far deeper. Fasting can be commendable and profitable, but remember that everything you see, hear or experience while fasting is NOT from the Lord Jesus.

Across the country I have found people doing and teaching weird, strange and peculiar things. When I protest, they piously proclaim that “the Lord told them” to do it. If I point out Scriptural discrepancies, many times their defense is that they know it is from the Lord because they were on a fast when this beautiful “revelation” came.

When on a fast, check everything very carefully. There are two stations broadcasting. Although you may think you are Super Christian Number One, you can be fooled if you are not cautious. There is no need to walk in fear, but do carefully check everything by the Word of God.

A curse causeless cannot come, therefore, when they do hit we must seek out the reason and eliminate it. There is a curse which comes because of murder (Genesis 4:11). In Matthew 5:21, 22, Jesus seems to equate hatred with murder. Dislike grows into hatred; hatred into murder.

A curse from the law comes from attempting to obey the letter of the law rather than trusting in the Lord. Many are seeking to make their own righteousness by going through a list of do’s and don’ts. Certainly there are do’s and don’ts in the Bible and we must observe them, but we are also to become sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s guidance. The curse of the law comes by going about trying to establish righteousness by doing good things. We should do good because we have been saved and not because we are trying to be saved. Motivation is all important here, along with heart attitudes.

Christ redeems those who put their trust in Him (Deuteronomy 11:28, 26:16; Galatians 3:10-15). Jesus Christ became a curse on the cross for us and blotted out the handwriting of ordinances against us. This will break any curse if claimed and applied.

If you suspect a curse is rooted in the occult, it must be broken back at least four generations. God curses occult dabbling to the third and fourth generations. If it is rooted in open practice of witchcraft, break it back fifteen to twenty-five generations on both sides of the family. Witchcraft is very tenacious, so don’t hesitate to go far back to destroy its rotten roots.

When a demon seems to resist the breaking of a curse, break it back fifteen or twenty generations. On occasion when I declared curses broken on both sides of the family back to ten generations, the demonre sponded that was not far enough and laughed. I then said, “OK, I break it back to fifteen, twenty generations.” The spirit then sobbed, “Now why did you have to do that?”

Never hesitate to break a curse for it is quite simple. If you are mistaken, no harm is done. An overlooked curse can cause many problems. Curses act as a kind of fence toprotect demons and give them legal grounds to operate. When breaking a curse say, “I break this curse in Jesus’ name.” If you suspect an inherited family curse: “I break the curse back to ten generations on both sides of the family and destroy every legal hold and every legal ground that the demons have to work in my {or other} life.”

We must destroy the curses for they are all around us to entangle and hinder. They constitute some of the “weights” we are told to lay aside (Hebrews 12:1). Fortunately we can destroy them and plug up the gaps. It is neither a hopeless nor endless job for once we begin stopping some of these leaks, growth, progress, and victory will follow. God is raising an army which will give the demons a hard time.